Kaveinga Ora
Equitable access to quality health services for our Pa Enua. Leaving no one behind. Over the past year, Te Marae Ora – Cook Islands Ministry of Health (TMO) has established and developed the flying doctors and dentists programme, in to what is now a more integrated, structured, and comprehensive mobile health service: Kaveinga Ora. Kaveinga…
Developing Our Mental Health Services
Addressing the unmet needs across the Cook Islands is a priority for Te Marae Ora – Cook Islands Ministry of Health, Mental Health Services. With the aging population, alcohol and drug problems, mental health and offending, developmental disorder and suicide prevention remain high on the priority list, as the team maps out its strategic direction…
Improving aged-care services in the Cook Islands
Dr Colin Patrick, a specialist psychiatrist (psychogeriatrician) visiting with the Cook Islands mental health team. There are many current population health challenges, one of these is the challenge of ensuring suitable health care for our elderly. For a long time, many health services around the world have known that there is a growing aged population.…
“Access to safe drinking water is a human right” – UN 2010
The people of the Cook Islands have 100% access to basic drinking water services, however this achievement does not indicate the quality of the drinking water. The National Water Policy (2016) and the concurrent Government investment in upgrading the water infrastructure and systems in Rarotonga through Te Mato Vai has been an important step towards…
Preventable crashes continue to burden health system
Over the Easter holidays we had two motorcycle crash-related hospital admissions involving young people, one of whom was referred from Aitutaki. Both incidents were associated with alcohol. “Road traffic crashes are avoidable and it is disappointing that drivers continue to risk their lives on our roads”, says Secretary of Health, Dr Josephine Herman. “The costs…